About Our Church 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church was founded by Finnish immigrants in 1896.

The congregation has been at its current site for nearly 50 years.

Today we are one of the congregations of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.


A bit of History about Bethlehem

Denominational Affiliations over History of the Congregation:  Suomi Synod (Illinois Synod), Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Northern Illinois Synod).

The new church was started in 1896 to provide religious services and education for new Lutheran immigrants from Finland and others of Finnish descent.  

The date of the first worship service was 1896 at the home of Henry Miller in DeKalb Illinois.

The date of the first building and location was the corner of 11th and State St. in 1899.

Founding Pastor: A.A. Koski (serving from 1895-1898).

Current Location is 1915 North 1st St in DeKalb Il